LA in 08

[madorosumaru 7]

The Kyokai announced today that there will be a Los Angeles Jungyo that will be held either in June or August 2008. The last time Ozumo was in LA was in 1981.

[nipponnate 0]

This may have been posted somewhere else but couldn't find it, but looks like theres going to be another international tour to LA this summer.

http://www.sumotour.com/

luckily Im go to california every summer, so looks like I can swing by, anybody else going? Or does anybody have any experience going to an exhibition? They havent put up the ticket prices yet, but hopefully I can make both days, and maybe get an autograph or 2.

[Asojima 2,874]

http://www.sumotour.com/

Thanks for the link. First thing I've seen with the actual dates and venue.

:-) (Sign of approval...)

[Shomishuu 0]

Second the thanks for the link. Checking the addresses and phone numbers (all in Honolulu), it appears that it's being put on by the same group that did the Honolulu Basho. Which means that if you arrive a few days early, there should be lots of autograph and photo opps with the likes of Azumazeki Oyakata, Musashimaru, etc.

And since the Honolulu Basho was poorly promoted and attended, it'll be interesting to see if they 'learned' anything from that. Thanks again. (Applauding...)

I'm sure that since the fans in the continental U.S. won't have to cross an ocean this time, they'll be there in large numbers, maybe not as many as in Las Vegas 2005...but a bunch anyway.

[nipponnate 0]

Hmmm, didnt know that the Honolulu Basho wasnt very well attended, what made it different than Tournaments held in Hawaii in the past? And why was the Vegas Basho so succesful? Was it just different promotion groups?

Sorry for all the questions! But Yeah, I was really bummed that I couldn't make it to Hawaii this past summer, but did a 180 when I saw there was one going to be held in LA. Ah!! I just went to the website and they changed the ticket information date from October to November. I was wondering when they'd post it.

Oh one more question for nobody in particular. I thought international jungyo's were only held every couple of years, but With this one there will have been 3 in America, 1 in Taiwan, and 1 in Israel all within just a couple of years. Any reasons? Or maybe I just thought wrong.

[Shomishuu 0]

Hmmm, didnt know that the Honolulu Basho wasnt very well attended, what made it different than Tournaments held in Hawaii in the past? And why was the Vegas Basho so succesful? Was it just different promotion groups?

Sorry for all the questions! But Yeah, I was really bummed that I couldn't make it to Hawaii this past summer, but did a 180 when I saw there was one going to be held in LA. Ah!! I just went to the website and they changed the ticket information date from October to November. I was wondering when they'd post it.

Oh one more question for nobody in particular. I thought international jungyo's were only held every couple of years, but With this one there will have been 3 in America, 1 in Taiwan, and 1 in Israel all within just a couple of years. Any reasons? Or maybe I just thought wrong.

My opinion on the Hawaii thing is that the promotion group was living in the past...recalling the good old days when there were two Hawaiian yokozuna plus Konishiki atop the sumo roost. They mistakenly assumed that those rosy memories still resonated among the populace, so they thought they didn't have to work so hard on promotion. The reality is that after Musashimaru retired and the NSK let it be known that Hawaiians were no longer welcome, sumo fever waned substantially.

Las Vegas is still...well Vegas, you know. And the photo opps were unmatched since the entire Mandalay Bay casino and lobby were literally crawling with rikishi at all hours of the day and night when they didn't actually have to be on the dohyo or get ready. In this close and intimate setting, many of them were joyful and accomodating in a way that most foreign fans have never seen...a once in a lifetime experience.

Yes there have been many foreign vists by rikishi lately...also to China and Korea too, I believe. The reason: Obviously, there is a desire to promote sumo overseas, but I'm not all that sure why. My own theories aren't based on anything concrete, so I'll refrain from guessing.

[Kintamayama 45,328]

I thought international jungyo's were only held every couple of years, but With this one there will have been 3 in America, 1 in Taiwan, and 1 in Israel all within just a couple of years. Any reasons? Or maybe I just thought wrong.

The Israel trip was not an official Kyokai jungyo- it was only Sadogatake-beya. As for the others, these last few years have seen multiple jungyos, many of them to Asia. There was supposed to be a Mongolian jungyo, but that fell through.

[Kuroyama 715]

Well, a couple of days ago we were told at http://www.sumotour.com/index.php/schedule-tickets that ticket prices and locations would be announced in October. This has now been updated to November.

I hope this isn't as disorganized as it's looking right now.

[sekitori 492]

I'm surprised that the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena was selected. It's almost 50 years old and isn't used very much any longer. According to Wikipedia, it "has become less used and lesser-known. Currently the Arena holds high school basketball championships, conventions, and occasional concerts, though most of the larger events are held at other more popular venues downown".

One advantage is that it's centrally located, right next the the L.A. Coliseum. I would think that another reason it was chosen was that the rent wouldn't be very high compared to other venues. Size is no problem. Its seating capacity is about 16,000 for boxing matches and would be close to that for sumo.

A much nicer arena would be Staples Center which is a lot newer (only 8 years old). It's the home of the L.A. Lakers and Clippers basketball teams and the L.A. Kings hockey team. It's also the best place in L.A. for championship boxing matches and large concerts. Its only disadvantage is its size. It's probably too large, holding almost 20,000 people. Staples Center is also centrally located but even if it was available, I'm sure the rent would be extremely high. Other good venues would have been the new Galen Center on the USC campus and Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus where the 1981 tour was held. Their seating capacities are over 10,000--similar to the Mandalay Bay site of the Las Vegas tour of 2005.

But despite the fact that I'm not very excited about the site of the L.A. tour, I'll be there for both days.

[yamaneko 2]

I thikn sports arena was the perfect selection. Probably 25% of the cost of the staples center, not to mention staples center depending on the time of year, has a lot of bookings.

Sports arena is still decent, good location, and its where the US Sumo open was last year.

Not exactly "posh" but who cares. :)

[Washuyama 641]

I think the LA Sports Arena was where the Jungyo was held during 1976. Back then, a couple of LA Rams were put up against a Makushita rikishi. ( The Rams didn't fare so well). Yokozuna Wajima won the two day basho...

Edited October 24, 2007 by Washuyama

[yamaneko 2]

Nishi, be sure to bring your mawashi

[nipponnate 0]

Yeah the arena is pretty old, but it IS cheap, plus it's across the street from USC, so I'd like to think it's in a bit more cultured part of town. It stinks it cant be held anymore closer to japantown, but it's not THAT far form downtown, hopefully it just gets good enough publicity.

[Shomishuu 0]

Well, a couple of days ago we were told at http://www.sumotour.com/index.php/schedule-tickets that ticket prices and locations would be announced in October. This has now been updated to November.

Now December. :-)

I hope this isn't as disorganized as it's looking right now.

Hopes dashing rapidly...

[Itachi 396]

I thikn sports arena was the perfect selection. Probably 25% of the cost of the staples center, not to mention staples center depending on the time of year, has a lot of bookings.

Sports arena is still decent, good location, and its where the US Sumo open was last year.

Not exactly "posh" but who cares. :)

I agree. The Staples Centre would introduce unnecssary extra costs and with all the basketball and hockey that needs to go on in there during the months proposed, it would be infeasible to set it up for the sumo event. The Sports Arena may not be shiny and new but it has proven capable of hosting this type of event and those who will buy tickets will be drawn by the sumo and not by the facility.

I like the idea of the Galen Centre. I haven't seen it but I understand it is new. Does it have the capacity required? USC should have a lot of excitement around its basketball team this year but things may be calmer there by fall 2008 since the best players, such as OJ Mayo, will have moved on to the NBA.

[Kuroyama 715]

Well, a couple of days ago we were told at http://www.sumotour.com/index.php/schedule-tickets that ticket prices and locations would be announced in October. This has now been updated to November.

Now December. (Sigh...)

I hope this isn't as disorganized as it's looking right now.

Hopes dashing rapidly...

And now February.

:-P

[Guest rich tully]

Yes... Grand Sumo is coming to LA Summer 2008. It will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Arena June 7 & 8. Tickets look like they will start to go on sale mid-March. At least that is what their website says. Seating chart is already up on the site. See you all there!!!!! http://www.sumotour.com

[Guest rich tully]

Ticket sales for Los Angeles Sumo 2008 now look like will be in mid-March. Although not for sale yet, it is also listed in TicketMasters

But today I did see the seating chart on the official site (Whistling...) All of this points toward good news. Looks like it is happening!!!

[Guest rich tully]

Just checked the site again and it looks like GROUP tickets are NOW available for the June 7 & 8 Jungyo in LA. Nothing on what defines a group or what the prices are but they post a number to call (213) 620-9723. Group tickets will only be available until Feb 20.

[Guest rich tully]

Forgot to mention I also saw info on group discount tickets for LA 2008 Grand Sumo. Not available online but need to call (213) 620-9723. Group discount tickets will only be until Feb 20. All of this info at www.SumoTour.com/index.php/schedule-tickets#tickets

Keep the info coming!!!!!

[Manekineko 200]

I merged this topic with the other LA jungyo one that resurfaced thanks to rich's posts simply to keep all the discussion streamlined. I also (temporarily?) closed the Foreign jungyo one - let me know if you think it should be reopened.

(Showing respect...)

[Gusoyama 103]

Pros-SUMO!

Cons-Need to actually go to LA.

Decisions, decisions. (In a state of confusion...)

[Kuroyama 715]

For when I go to buy tickets for this thing: Do any of our experienced basho attendees have any advice on which side of the dohyo is best? North is most often faced, but there may be good reason for wanting to see it from some other direction.

[Asojima 2,874]

Ticket prices and initial sale locations have been posted here.

Edit: Got Section 16 Loge (Blue) First Row for both days!

Edited March 2, 2008 by Asojima

[Kuroyama 715]

Ticket prices and initial sale locations have been posted here.

Edit: Got Section 16 Loge (Blue) First Row for both days!

Did you have to buy them in person at one of the pre-sale locations, or were you able to get them by phone? I live near Santa Cruz, so it's a little much to drive down to LA just to buy the tickets!